Johnnie Carson, an American observer to the 2023 Nigerian presidential election, has disclosed three criteria that allowed Bola Tinubu to win
Mr Carson co-led a joint mission of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI) to the elections.
Speaking when Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed visited his office at the US Institute of Peace in the US’s capital, Washington DC, Mr Carson said that Tinubu gained victory because he possessed three critical factors that statesmen rely on to win an election in Nigeria.
He also emphasized that the electoral umpire’s game had to improve considerably for Nigeria to earn the best electoral process.
Mr Carson stressed that substantial financial resources were one of the criteria necessary for any presidential candidate to win an election in Nigeria alongside other factors, among which are a national organization that is functional and grassroots acceptance from voters.
While Tinubu had all three criteria, the other presidential contenders did not possess them.
Mr Peter Obi, the Labor Party’s hopeful candidate, was one of the leading contenders but lacked two of the necessary criteria – a national working organization and a ground-level acceptance by voters.
Mr Carson commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his dedication to the Nigerian electoral process’s transparency and fairness.
The diplomat also observed that INEC needed to upgrade its processes to enhance the country’s electoral system.
While speaking with think tanks and international media, the Information and Culture Minister, Lai Mohammed, presented the post-election facts in contrast to the opposition party’s antagonistic and counterproductive narratives.
Among the issues discussed during these engagements are Nigeria’s economy and foreign affairs.
It is incumbent on the Nigerian government to make efforts to improve voter confidence in the country’s electoral process.
This will require a change in the mentality and approach to conducting fair and free elections in Nigeria.
The presence of foreign observers like Mr Johnnie Carson and the National Democratic Institute can undoubtedly bolster INEC’s efforts towards conducting credible elections in the future.
